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Hockey

Holy Land experience for Petes trainer

Peterborough Petes' trainer Brian Miller showing off his gold medal on Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2013 at the Memorial Centre awarded to him from the World Maccabi Games in Israel where he was trainer for Team Canada. Clifford Skarstedt/Peterborough Examiner/QMI Agency

Winning a gold medal is nice but Brian Miller’s experience with Team Canada at the Maccabiah Games went beyond hockey.

The Peterborough Petes trainer journeyed to Israel as equipment manager for Canada’s national Jewish hockey team in July. He was among more than 8,000 participants from 78 countries in 42 sports for the 19th Games, nicknamed the Jewish Olympics, held every four years. It’s the third largest sports gathering in the world outside the Summer and Winter Olympics.

Built into the trip was an opportunity for Team Canada members to experience the culture and history of the ancient civilization. As a Christian, it was a unique experience for Miller to learn about the Jewish faith and visit the birthplace of Christianity.

“Going back to the roots of Christianity and seeing places you read about in the Bible was one highlight,” Miller said.

“It helped me to understand the Jewish people and the country of Israel more, to go back to the country where Christianity all began was definitely an attraction to start with.”

Another highlight was visiting the ruins of the city of Dan which dates back more than eight centuries B.C.

“We get excited over a 100-year-old building in Canada and have to preserve it,” said Miller, “but these ruins are thousands of years old.”

He admits he hadn’t heard of the Maccabiah Games prior to former Petes coach Mike Pelino asking if he was interested in being on staff. Pelino was going to be an assistant coach to former Petes coach Mike Keenan. They had to step aside when they were hired by Magnitogorsk of the Kontinental Hockey League. Former NHL player and coach Guy Carbonneau took over as head coach assisted by Wayne Primeau.

“It interested me because it was international travel,” Miller said. “I would be representing Canada and the history of Israel.”

For many players it was their first trip to Israel.

“Part of the reason of the Maccabiah Games is to encourage Jewish people to visit Israel,” he said. “They intentionally set up a lot of tours. We did things like rafting down the Jordan River, floating in the Dead Sea, visiting the Old City and the Western wall. In North America we refer to it as the Wailing Wall but you don't call it that when you’re over there.”

It was his first time flying overseas for hockey so there was a bit more work required in packing equipment although he had experience with flights crossing borders in his time with the AHL’s Saint John Flames. But not 12-hour flights.

“It’s a bit more work at the airport coordinating the large equipment with the people at the airport to make sure stuff is all together,” Miller said.

Canada dominated the tournament winning all five games including beating the United States 7-1 in the final. Other teams included Israel and Ukraine.

The team was comprised of Jewish players with a wide variety of skill levels from junior B and up including collegiate and minor professional. The most recognizable names, Miller said, were former Brampton Battalion player Adam Henrich and current Mississauga Steelheads forward Dylan Smoskowitz.

It was Miller’s third taste of international competition. He was part of a Hockey Canada U18 team which finished fourth at the World U18 Hockey Championships in Fargo, North Dakota in 2009. He also twice worked with Softball Canada at world championships, in Newfoundland and Illinois finishing fourth both times. He came fourth with Team Ontario’s U16 team at the 2011 Canada Winter Games in Halifax.

“Winning an international gold in hockey was definitely a big highlight,” Miller said.

After opening ceremonies in Jerusalem, the hockey players moved to their venue in Metula three hours north near the Lebanese border. The games were played at a rink former Petes coach Roger Neilson took his hockey school to.

“Roger had a lot to do with early hockey in Israel. The arena is called the Canada Centre. There was a lot of Canadian money which went into building the arena,” said Miller. “It’s kind of neat to go that far and yet the arena has your country’s name in it.”